Chinese B2C e-commerce website JD.com announced that the company has built its first research and development center outside Asia in California's Silicon Valley.

This new R&D center will help American retailers, business partners and various brands to establish and enlarge their influence in China via the shopping platform of JD.

Locating in Santa Clara, the R&D center will be committed to talent and technology communications and exchange. It will develop cloud computing and big data technologies and improve user experience.

Liu Qiangdong, founder of JD, said that considering the extensive influence of American brands, products and market, America is the first choice for JD to build its first branch outside Asia.

In addition, JD revealed that Weng Zhi, chief technology consultant of JD Group, will lead the new R&D center and related R&D focuses will include cloud computing, big data, machine learning, and innovative technologies such as robot-aided activities.

Total investment figures for the expansion were not made available by the company.